Centrifugal machine



Jan", 9, 1923 E. ROBERTS. CEN'TRIFUGAL MACHINE.

3 SHEETSSHEET K.

FILED JULY 30. 1920.

. ROBERTS.

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

JHILQ, 1923,.

3 SHEEIS-'SHEET.2.

FILED JULY 30. 1920.

MMLLWZQ E ROBERTS CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE. mm) JULY 3'0. 1920.

3 SHEETS-5HEE'I 3.

iatente dun l EUGENE ROBERTS, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, AQSIGNOR TO THE JESI'ERN' STATES MACHINE COMPANY, OF SALT LAKE CITY, U'lPflH, A CORPORATIUN OF UTAH;

',CENTRI]EUGAL MACHINE.

' Application filed 31113730,

and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Centrifugal 'll llachines,v of which the following is a specification- In separating s0lid.1natter from a liquid body by centrifugal force as in the case of extracting sugarf from the raw juice or from syrup, it is common practice to cleanse or wash the solid matter walled'up-on the interior of the basket by directing a spray of washing liquid or water against the solid matter or sugar while the machine is still rotating. lit also desirable that the washing liquid shall notbe mingled with the juiceordiquid content that has" just been separated centrifugallyi i from the sugar.

The present invention is intended to pro vide a simple and convenient construction by which such separate collecting of the two liquids separated from the sugar by successive operations may be easily and reliably effected. A further object of this invention is-to render impossible the minglingof'the two different extracted liquids through any carelessness orfoversight on the part of the attendant,since obviously if the attendant should fail to adjust the deflecting plates after theraw juice is extracted before starting the washing operation, the 'washing liquid would be mingled with the cane juice eventhough appliancesare provided to pre-' vent this. 'llo-avoid the consequencesof such oversight the deflector plates or shutters are automatically returned to or maintained, in

' operative clo'sedrelationio one collecting connection with the washing apparatus, so-

trough or. ring and are automatically shifted to open position through suitable that as the washing apparatus is started in action the shutters are open to deflect the centrifugally separated liquid into the other collectingtrough.

Means are also provided by--- shutter closing means are prevented from acting simultaneous withthe return of the washing control mechanism to normal position, such means being preferably correlated lili with the pivotal discharger shaft'so as to be released when the discharger shaft is turned to bring the discharge r; plow into ac tion, it being understood by those skilled jvhich the mac. seri l no. M0,]l19.

in the art that the discharger plow is.

brought into action after the washingoperation by' swinging the plow on its main pivotal shaft or standard. i 5

lln'll'lustrating this invention only such parts of the washing apparatus and of the No. 1,011,851. The sugar washing apparatus forms no part of the present invention but is of the general type shown in Roberts and Gibson Patent 1,224,095 dated April 24, 1917. It will also be understood that while the illustration of the present invention includes the constructions referred to in the said co-pending application and inthe said patents mentioned, the invention is not restricted in its application to the i utilization of such specific structures but in thlsparticular is based upon the principle of correlating the movement of the: shutters,

by which separate collection ofthe two different separated liquids is effected, with'the washing apparatus, so that the washing" operation will not begin in advance of the proper shifting of- ,the deflecting shutters; Moreover, the automatic control of this shutter movement is also considered to be an important feature of the invention. 7

1n the accompanying drawings l have illustrated the preferred construction and arrangement embodying the .1 principles of this invention ihwhich- Figure 1 is a vertical elevation chiefly in cross'section showing the arrangement of the movable shutters or deflector plates and the mechanism by which they are operated in combination-with the washing mechanism. Figure 2, is a planview in section showing the overlapped relation -of the shutters and hinged support therefor.

. Figure 3 is a plan view partly inhorizontal section showing the relation of the automatically. acting bail to the shutter: closing devices.

Figure lisa sideelevation showing the connections between the shutter mechanism,

the washingapparatus and the discharger shaft. w

Figure 5 is an detall view show ing the interlocking clutch connection between the starting spindle of the washing apparatus and the actuating lever for opening the shutters.

Figure 6 is an end view of the clutch member splined to the starting spindle of the washing apparatus.

Figure 7 is an endwise ,view of the coopcrating face of the actuating lever hub forming the other member of the clutch. I

According tothe usual practice, I provide a stationary curb or casing 1 whichsurrounds the usual centrifugal basket which is omitted from the drawing to more clearly show the pertinent parts of this invention. This curb however, at its bottom is provided with two collecting troughs or rings 2 and 3 concentric with the central opening of the curb through which the sugar is discharged out of the basket'after each separating and washing operation.

" Inside the curb in a position to lie out side of the centrifugal basket are'mounted a the four vertical cylindrically curved plates series of cylindrically curved segment plates 4 and 5 each of which preferably extends through an arc of approximately 90 so that form a cylindrical wall interposed between the outside of the centrifugal basket and the inside 'of the-curb. Each plate is provided nearits top with a pair of perforated ears -6 which are mounted astride of aninwardly projecting lug or bracket '7 secured to the curb near the top thereof so as to afford a hinged joint for each ofsaid plates upon the pivot in 8 which is passed through the aligned erforations' of the hinged members;

By 0 setting the pivotal joint to the outside of-the vertical line of each hinged plate or shutter there will be a'tendency of the bottom of the plates to swing outward owing to gravity. thus dispensing with the use of any sprin to cause this outward movement of the s utter.

The shutter plates are so formed that when in innermost or closed position their lower ends rest snugly against the partition ring 9 which separates the'outer from the inner trough and theyalso have theirvertical edges in close contact so as to prevent the outwardly thrown liquid from" the baso ket from passing into the space outside of the vertical'plane of the partition ring 9.

' When in this innermost or closed position therefore, the liquid thrown out against the interiors surfaces of the shutters isdirected 1 into theinner ring 3 whence it is carried v centrifugally egrpelled' liquid ures 1 and 3.

as to permit the tongue f8 t ing bracket ll fixed to the outside of the .curb there being a corresponding bearing bracket and cam sleeve on the diametrically opposite side of the curb, as shown in Fig- Onthe outside of the two opposed shutter plates 4 is mounted a hooklike member 12 which engages a cooperating cam member13 having a stem l l extending inside of the hollow cam member 10 for bearing support. The hook 12 prevents the cam member 13 fromturning on its axle against the rotative thrust of the cam member 10, and it will be seen by reference to Figure 3 thatv when the cam member 10 is turnedin one. direction its'oblique cam surface rides against the oblique cam surface ofthe cooperating cam member 13 thereby forcing" 'the cam member 13 and the plate 4 inwardly toward thecenter which results in establishing a close contact between the lower endsof the plates 4 and the partition ring 9.

For effecting this inward movement a/utomatically I provide a hub or sleeve 15 on the outer end of each rotative cam member 10 and secure to said sleeves .an approxi- 1 mately semi-cylindrical bail 16 carrying a weight 17 which normally tends to, depress the bail and consequently'to rotate the closing cam members 10in a direction to pushinwardly the pivotal plates 4, As 105 shown in Figure 3 the oblique surface of the closing cam 10 may be formed toxride by the oblique surface of its cooperating member 13 so as to form a positive lock for supporting the shutters 4 in their closed po- .4result in the corresponding movement of the intermediate shutters 5. This move ment is effected by any suitable connection but I have here shown in Figure 3 the plates '4 provided with circumferentially extended tongues or strips .18 which overlap the vartical joints or edges of each. pair of adjacentpl'ates, the plates 5 being provided with straps 19 through the inside of which these overlapping strips or ton ues are passed so to slide circum- .125 ferentially on the plate 5 while retaining operative connect-ion therewith through the straps or other holding means 19. By means of such connections it will be seen that whenkthe plates 4 are forced inwardly iars/ta made uniform through the same connection- .whereby all four platesare either contracted.

or closed or expanded or opened in like degree'and simultaneously. j

7 As 1 have previously indicated to make the device proof against oversight on the part of the operator it is desirable that when the washing operation begins the shutters should be expanded or opened so as to defleet the washing fluid into the outer trough 2 the inner collecting trough 3 being used to collect the raw juice from the sugar or other material that is being treated. With this object in view, therefore I have so interconnected the washing apparatus with the shutter cont-rolling devices that the washing operation can not start unless the shutters are expanded or opened' In view of the fact that the particular washing apparatus forms the subject matter of my co-pending application 'mentioned above I will explain only such parts of this mechanism as are directlyconcerned with the present invention. For general purposes it will suliice to state that the washing apparatus comprises an oscillating 'spray nozzle 20 and a valve controlling mechanism operated from a driving pulley 21 when the rock-shaft or starting spindle 22 is partially rotated in a contra-clockwisedirection hav- 1ng referenceto Figure 4.

' (1n the end of the startmg spindle or rockshaft 22 of thewwasher is mounted a pivotal arm 24 whose hub 24 is free to rotate about ,the axis of the shaft. As'shown in Figure 5 a fixed sleeve30 is secured to'the casing 23 and projects'th rough the hub 24 with its outer edge scalloped to form an endwise thrust stationary cam for purposes presently to be'described. r

011 the outer end of the spindle 22 is slidingly splined a clutch member 31 having a projecting tooth 32 normally interlocked rolever 24 when moving in a contra-clockwise tatively with a corresponding projecting tooth 29 on the end of the hub 24*. A spring 33 thrusting against a nut 34 on the end of the spindle serves to keep the splined clutch member 31 pressed normally into interlock,- ing engagement with the hub 24? and against the scalloped end edge of the sleeve 30. The object of this construction is to cause \the direction to turn the starting spindle 22 through asuflicient' arc to cause the washing mechanism'to begin its operation and then allow the interconnected lever 28 of the shutter controlling'mechanism to remain in shutter opening position while the spindle 22 and the clutch member 31 return to their initial or idle positio-n as soon as the'wa shing operation is completed.

I ing-pin- 45 rides against the bevel 44 and into i action.

A starting arm or lever 28 is secured to the bail-carryinghulo or 'sleeve 15 whlch is attached to the locking cam 10 so' that the ig. 4) acts to release the interlocking engagement of the two cam members 10 13 and allow the shutters oripartitlon sections of the washer,'so that at the same time that the deflector plates are shifted to operative relation to the outer ring the automatic washing apparatus is set in operati onz' lini other words the lever 28- performs the twofold function of shifting the shutters of the sectional partition to their outermost posi tion to deflect the washingliquid into the outer trough and at the same time it causesthe washing apparatus to be set in operation through the rotation of its starting spindle. The slot 26 is employed ,to compensate for the difference in length of the levers 28 and 24 since in order to shift the deflector plates or shutters the lever 24 must have considerably greater movementrthan is required to shift the starting arm 24 of the,

'throwof the shifting lever 28 to the right to swing outwardly in position to deflect the washer from. inoperative to operative pos1- tion. Since it would not be desirable tohave the deflector or shutters of the curb shifted from their outermost position just as soon as the washingspray is out off, since tl'rere will be some washing liquid still in the sugar that needs to be extracted, 1 provide a latch 40 having a hook 41 engaging a catchplate 42 and pivotally connected with arm 28 so that when the arm 28 is swung to the'right the hook latch will catch against the stop member 42' and retain the shifting lever in such operative relation against the weightpf the bail until the operator is ready to dischargethe sugar which is the next step in handling the material. 1

In order that no separate attention on the part of the operator may be required l prefer to make provision for disengaging the 120 latch 40 from. the stop member 42 By movement of the main discharger shaft 43 which is necessaryto bring the discharger plow the dischargeushaft 43 so that as the discharger: shaft is rotated to operative position for using the dischargen the project With this object in view I- lifts the latch so as to disengage it from the stop member 42 in which position the weight bail is free to return the arm 48 and the shutters 4 and 5 to their normal or -ini- 5 tial position ready for treating the next charge of sugar in the machine. The discharger isof the general type illustrated in U. S. Patent 1,011,851 December 12, 1911 in which the discharger plow is swung on its pivotal axis toward and away from the wall of the basket, and as this is an old construction only the plow-supporting rotatable post 43, which carries the release pin 45 is illustrated in the drawings. I It will, therefore, be seen that the three successive operations, namely, of extracting thejuice, washing the sugar and discharging the sugar are so interconnected or cor- J related by means of this apparatus that the deflecting shutters are normally in proper position to deflect the j uice'into its collecting trough during the first operation andcto shift the deflecting shutters to operative re lat-ion to the ring that dollects the washing fluid at the same time that the washing apparatus' is set in motion, and further that ,the deflecting shutters remain in this latter position for properly deflecting the washing fluid until the, attendant is ready to operate the discharger for the purpose of unloading the material. In this way the separation of the two difl'erent centrifugally separated -liquids is effected without liability to error, the whole being automatically effected by merely shifting the arm 28 and performing the necessary movement to operate the-disgharger whenever the operator is ready to The four arcuate pivotally mounted de- 40 fleeting plates being interlocked must move inward and outward simultaneously. When the handdever 28 is in vertical position shown in Figure 4 these deflectors are in their innermost position thereby serving to direct the cylindrically extractedcjuice into the inner ring 3. Upon throwing over the lever to start the washer or sprayer all de flector plates are thrown outwardly into position to guide the washing liquid into the outer collecting ring 2 and are automatically locked in that position by means of the hook latch 40. ,.-When the washingjoe- .riod is concluded and it then, becomes necessary to discharge the'sugar, the turning of .the discharger post 43 into position to bring the 'discharger plow into action in accordance with the well known practice, serves p to release the latch-41 by the lifting engage- Rment of the pin" 45 on the discharger post so that the weighted arm 16 automatically restores the deflector plates to their inward.

position'ready-to deflect the extracted juice from the next charge treated in the machine into-the appropriate inner ring. While the 5 device can b operated at will by theattendl ant, yet the automatic operation renders it fool-proof against neglect or oversight.

What I claim is:

1. In a centrifugal machine the combination of a curb or juice collecting casing provided at its bottom with outer and'inner collecting troughs having separate outlets, an interior movable partition subdivided vertically into curved sections or shutters supported to form a circular shield for deflecting the centrifugally expelled juice into the inner trough and being movable outwardly away from said inner trou h into position to deflect centrifugally expelled liquid into the outer trough, and means for normally retaining said sections or shutters into theirinmost position during the operation of extracting the liquid content from the material that is centrifugally treated, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal machine. the combination of a basket inclosing casing provided with inner and outer collecting troughs, an

interiorly disposed partition, comprising curved sections mounted to swing on horizontal pivots so as to be adjustable into deflecting relation to either one of said troughs, and means for effecting correspomh ing' adjustment of said sections in order to deflect centrifugally separated liquids into their appropriate troughs substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket encircling casing provided with two concentric troughs, an intcriorly dis )osed partition wall comprising curved sections mounted above said troughs to pernlit movement of their lower ends away from the inner trough toward the periphe1' of the outer trough and means for shifting said sections to direct the flow oi centrifugally separated liquids to the appropriate trough,substantially as described.

In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a-basket inclosing casing, an interi orly disposed'partition wall comprising curved sections having contacting vertical edges movable toward and away from the centre of the casing, shifting cams having operative 'engagen'ient with the exterior faces of said sections to move them inwardly from their outermost position, said casing being provided at its bottom portion with outer and inner liquid collecting-troughs arcrangedrespetively to receive the liquid [thrown against said partition when the sections are in their diflerent positions of adjustment, substantially as described.

5. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket encircling casing provided at its bottom with an annular liquid collecting trough, an annular partition subdividing said annular troughs into two separate collecting'troughs, a circular partition mounted above said trough comprisraamaa ing .curved sections movable into close contact with said annular partition. to direct the liquid thrown against said sections into the inner trough, and niovable outwardly away from said partition to direct the liquid into the center trough and means for simultaneously shifting said sections into operative deflecting relation to one of said troughs, substantially as described. it 6. In a centrifugal machine,-the combination with an automatic washing apparatus, a basket inclosing casing, provided With outer and inner liquid collecting troughs, means for deflecting the centrifugally separated liquids into either of said troughs, means for controlling theposition of said deflecting means, said controlling means being interconnected with the washing apparatus whereby the shifting of the controlling means to a predeterminedposition results in setting in operation the washing apparatus, substantially as described. 4

7. In a centrifugal 'maphine, the combination of a washing apparatus for washing the solid matter retained in the centrifugal, abasket inclosing casing provided with separate liquid receiving troughs, means for deflecting the centrifugally separated liquid into either trough, a lever having connection with said washing apparatus to i start its operation and having also operative connection with said deflecting means to shift the deflecting means into positionto direct the centrifugally expelled washing liquid into its appropriate trough, substantially as described. I

8. In a centrifugal machine the combination of a basket encircling casing provided with separate" receptacles for centrifugally expelled liquids, meansfordeflecting the expelled liquid into either of said troughs at will, a washing apparatus located to spray .the solid matter in the centrifugal, a lever for setting said washing apparatus in operation said lever having pperative connections to shift the deflecting "means into position to direct the centrifugally expelled washing liquid intoits appropriate receptacle, and means for retainingsaid lever in "such shifting position after thewashingapparatus, has ceased to operate, substantially as described. A

9. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket-inclosing casing interiorly disposed deflecting means arranged within the casing and shiftableinto'position to directcentrifugally expelled liquids into sepa; rate receptacles in the casing, an automatic washing'apparatus, a discharger devicefor t0-removing the solid matter from the centrifugal after the liquid extracting; and washing operation, a' lever interconnected with both the washing apparatus and the deflecting means, said lever'acting when shifted to operative position. to start the washing apparatus and toshift the'deflecting means to position for directing the-centrifugally expelled washing fluid into its appropriate receptacle, and means for retainlng said lever in operative position, afterthe Washing apparatus; has completed its cycle, said retaining means being automatically released to restorethedeflecting means to normal position-by the discharger shaft as-the latter is moved into operative discharging position, substantially as described.

' 10."In a centrifugal machine, the combi nation ofa basket-inclosing casing, interior deflecting means for directing centrifugally expelled liquids into different receptacles, a washing apparatus a discharger device, a deflector controlling member interconnected with the washing apparatus and the dis charger shaft to start the washing device .in operation when the deflecting means is shiftedto appropriate position, and for releasing the deflecting means-toiallow its return' to normal position When the discharger shaft is turned to put thedischarger into action, substantially as described.

11. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of basket-inclosing casing, provided with separate collecting troughs, deflecting means for directing centrifugally expelled liquids into either trough according to the position of adjustment of the deflecting means, automatic sugar washing apparatus having a starting member by which it is set in'operation fora predetermined period, a

lever acting when moved to operative posi- 00 tion tdshift the deflecting means to operative relation to the trough for collecting the Washing liquid, a link connecting said lever with the starting member of the washer, and means for retaining the lever in its operative position when the starting member of the washer has returned to normal position, substantially. as described. 7

12. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket inclosing casing provided with separate collecting troughs, deflecting means for directing centrifugally expelled liquids into either. trough according to the position of adjustment of the deflecting means, automatic sugar washing apparatus 1 having a starting member b'y-whic h it is set in operation forca predetermined period, a, lever actlngwhen moved to operative position to shift'the deflecting means-to opera- J tive relation to the trough for collecting the washing liquid, a link connecting said lever -with the starting memberofthe washer, a

detent. for retaining the said lever in operative position after the washing apparatus has completed its cycle, "and means for automatically releasing said detent when the discharger is moved into operative position,. sub stantially as described; b

13. Ina centrifugal machine, the combination of a basket encircling casi, an inno terior sectional deflecting Wall shiftable into I position to direct centrifugally expelled liquids into separate receptacles, a lever for Y shifting, the said sectional wall from one position to the other, Washing, apparatus for washing the solid content in the centrifugal, means connecting said lever with the startjing member of said washing apparatus in i ,order to set the washing, apparatus in op v 10 eration when the lever is shifted'sai'd connecting means being automatically disconnected with the starting member when the starting member is shifted to operative posi- I tion, substantiallyas described.

14. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of an encircling sectional deflector wall arranged to surround the centrifugallbasket and shiftable into different positions to direct the centrifugally separated liquids into different receptacles, a lever for effect ng sald shifting movement, a washing apparatus, means interconnecting said lever member in order to allow said starting momher to return to normal position without resetting said lever, substantially as described. In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification;

' EUGENE ROBERTS. 

